Abstract
In Hokkaido, a snowy and cold region of Japan, indoor playgrounds that allow children to play in an outdoor atmosphere have been growing in number. The important characteristics of space planning were clarified through the study of nine major indoor playgrounds and detailed analysis of three selected cases. Such indoor playgrounds serve as gathering points for people from a diverse range of generations, including infants, elementary and junior high school students, parents, grandparents, and groups. They provide a space that encourages various activities of not only children but also adults. The important space characteristics that enhance the environment for example are the consideration of various physical activities, proximity of play area and rest area which allow easy visual contact, appropriate relationship between the indoor playground and outdoor play area to encourage outdoor activities, and considerations for group. Keywords: play environment; indoor playground; mixed generation; regional facility; snowy and cold region 1. Introduction unique characteristics that are different from those 1.1 Background of the existing children's community houses. They I m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e q u a l i t y o f c h i l d r e n ' s p l a y serve as gathering points for people across a range environments is an important issue in Japan, where the of generations, including infants, children, parents, trend toward nuclear families and the decline of the grandparents and groups, year-round. In addition, some birthrate have both increased along with the general have been successful in encouraging children to play aging of society. Open spaces where children can play outdoors in winter. The relationship between each type have been put to other uses in urban areas, and more of space greatly influences such activities. The purpose children attend cram schools or participate in other of this study is to elucidate the important spatial activities at the expense of unstructured free time. In characteristics that give rise to and promote favorable addition, traffic accidents involving children and crimes conditions of such indoor playgrounds. against children have been increasing nationwide. Therefore the number of children playing outdoors 2. Research Methodology in parks is decreasing in Japan, even though playing There are nine major indoor playgrounds located in outside is very important for children. The government Hokkaido, a cold and snowy prefecture in Japan. Seven of them are located in regional parks, and two are has promoted and encouraged children's community located within the inner city. The basic conditions of houses across the country. In addition, there has been the nine playgrounds were studied through discussions a rise in the number of privately operated indoor play facilities where children can play safely; these have with the administrators of each facility. Three facilities gained popularity in metropolitan areas. were selected as cases for subsequent investigation. Given the above trends, in the cold and snowy Observational research of the three facilities was regions of Hokkaido, where playing outdoors for performed in both the winter and the summer in 2005. long periods of time is restricted, all-weather indoor Various activities in the indoor playgrounds were playgrounds that allow children to play in an outdoor recorded and categorized and the characteristics of atmosphere have been growing in number. space planning that promoted the activities were then investigated. 1.2 Objective There are many previous studies concerning play Indoor playgrounds in cold and snowy regions have environments such as children's community houses and parks in Japan. However, there are few studies on *Contact Author: Seiki Tagawa, Associate Professor, Faculty of indoor playgrounds in cold and snowy regions, as far Art and Technology, Hokkaido Tokai University 1) as we know. A series of studies by Senda provides 224 Chuwa, Kamui-cho, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 070-8601 Japan essential information on the spatial characteristics that Tel: +81-1-166-61-5111, Fax: +81-1-166-62-8180 encourage children's play activities in Japan. Regarding e-mail: tagawa@da.htokai.ac.jp the play environment in Hokkaido, Kitagawa and ( Received October 8, 2006 ; accepted February 28, 2007 ) Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering/May 2007/78 73 2) Kato , found through research conducted in Sapporo founded by municipal governments. ⑨ was founded City, that the number of children who play in parks by a rural village. The indoor playgrounds in Hokkaido in winter in residential areas is decreasing. Takahashi are founded by different levels of administrative 3) and Ogaki pointed out that many mothers desire a organizations. facility where children can play in the winter, on the I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e a b o v e c a s e s , t h e r e a r e m a n y basis of a questionnaire survey in both urban and t r a d i t i o n a l c h i l d r e n ' s c o m m u n i t y h o u s e s , w h i c h rural areas in Hokkaido. The aim of the present study a r e p r o m o t e d a n d s u p p o r t e d b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t , is to elucidate the effective spatial characteristics of nationwide. Several civic gymnasiums in Hokkaido indoor playgrounds in snowy and cold regions, and also have children's playrooms. However, the indoor to contribute to raising the quality of future indoor playgrounds shown in Fig.1. have different spatial playgrounds. characteristics from those of other facilities; they allow children to play in an outdoor atmosphere. They all 3. Overview of Indoor Playgrounds in Hokkaido have high ceilings of two stories or more, and ① , The nine major indoor playgrounds in Hokkaido ③ ,⑦ and ⑧ have roof skylights; ② , ③ , ④ , ⑤ , ⑥ are shown in Fig.1. ① was founded by the national and ⑧ have high side-lights; ② , ③ , ⑤ and ⑥ have government and is located in a large forest park. large glass screens and doors that allow easy access ② a n d ③ w e r e f o u n d e d b y t h e p r e f e c t u r a l to the outdoor area. In addition, ② , ③ , ④ and ⑦ government and are located in large regional parks. , have artificial lawns as the floor material, has a soil ① ⑤ and are intended to be used by people throughout ground surface, and has sand on an artificial lawn. ② ③ ⑥ , , , a wide geographical area. ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ and ⑧ were These indoor playgrounds are designed as all-weather plazas where children can play even during the cold season. The indoor playgrounds are in different types of settings, as shown in Fig.2. ① and ⑦ are for exclusive use as playgrounds. ② and ③ are indoor playgrounds in the visitor's centers of the regional parks. ④ ,⑧ and ⑨ are part of a complex with other facilities: ④ is attached to a public pool and communal bath, is attached to a science museum and lifetime learning facility, and ⑨ is attached to a local toy museum. The main functions of ⑤ and ⑥ are as indoor gymnasiums, and the children's play area is set up in the gymnasiums mainly on the weekend. There is a variety of settings of indoor playgrounds in the snowy and cold regions of Hokkaido. Fig.2. Degree of complexity of the indoor playgrounds 4. Detailed Study of Three Cases 4.1 Locations and types of indoor playgrounds Detailed observational analysis of three indoor playgrounds by two observers was implemented. As shown in Fig.3., three indoor playgrounds were selected as representative cases of each type in Fig.2.; exclusive use, mixed use and complex. Case A in Fig.3. is Wakuwaku-Egg in Kamuinomori P a r k ( ⑦ i n F i g . 1 . ) , w h i c h w a s f o u n d e d a n d i s managed by Asahikawa City, a local hub and the second largest city in Hokkaido. It is exclusively an Fig.1. Major indoor playgrounds in Hokkaido 74 JAABE vol.6 no.1 May 2007 Seiki Tagawa indoor playground. Case B is in the visitor's center in Yumenomori Park at Nakashibetsu Town ( ③ in Fig.1.), which was founded and is managed by the Hokkaido prefectural government. The space is used as both the administrative office and information center of the park, as well as the indoor playground. Case C is Relax Plaza in Kawashimo Park ( in Fig.1.), which was founded and is managed by Sapporo City, the prefectural capital of Hokkaido. It is a complex that contains an indoor playground, public pool, communal bath, and the administrative office of the park. All three playgrounds have similar basic functions of a play facility for children, even if the degree of complexity of each facility is different. They are also all used by local residents and are free of charge for the use of the indoor playgrounds. Therefore, Cases A, B and C are appropriate examples for analyzing the important spatial characteristics of indoor playgrounds in the snowy and cold regions of Hokkaido. 4.2 Basic zoning of indoor playgrounds The basic zoning of the main floor of each facility is shown in Fig.3.; all of the facilities are located in regional parks. As Case A is used exclusively as a playground, the relationship between zones is simple. The facility does not have a canteen. The staff desk is in a corner of the indoor playground and the staff sometimes watches over the indoor playground. Case B has a canteen and a multipurpose meeting room. The administrative Fig.3. Zoning of three major indoor playgrounds office is next to the indoor playground. Therefore, the staff can easily supervise the play area, and children can stop by the office. Case C has a public pool, a communal bath, and a canteen in addition to the indoor playground. The administrative office is not next to the indoor playground, so the staff must supervise the playground via a monitoring camera. Concerning the degree of monitoring, Case C has a relatively low level compared with Cases A and B. 4.3 Relationship between indoor playground and outdoor play area in summer The positional relationships between the indoor f a c i l i t i e s a n d t h e w a d i n g p o o l s , w h i c h a r e v e r y popular in summer, are shown in Fig.4. Case A has a wading pool next to the indoor playground, with a wide wooden deck under a canopy connecting the two areas. Many families rest there in the summer. As the sunshine in the summer is strong even in Hokkaido, Fig.4. Relationship between indoor playground and outdoor area shade is necessary to rest comfortably. Case B also has a wading pool next to the indoor playground, two areas. Cases A and B both have close positional but it does not have a connecting structure between relationships between the indoor playground and them, such as a canopy or eaves, so parents who are outdoor play area. watching their children must stand beside the wading 4.4 Relationship between indoor playground and pool. A wooden deck and proper shade adjacent to the outdoor play area in winter playground will be effective in promoting harmony T h e r e a r e m a n y k i n d s o f w i n t e r r e c r e a t i o n a l among families. activities in cold and snowy regions, such as skiing, For Case C, there is a wading pool in the same s k a t i n g , s l e d d i n g , s n o w b a l l f i g h t i n g a n d m a k i n g park, but it is located about 120 meters away from the snowmen. However, the number of children who play indoor facilities, so there is little relation between the JAABE vol.6 no.1 May 2007 Seiki Tagawa 75 at parks in winter is generally decreasing in Hokkaido. an area that resembles a fort (A-1, A-2). A large net There are few children who use the parks in winter hangs from the ceiling, on which children can climb in Cases A and C, as shown in Fig.5. In both cases, and wander around and explore (A-9). In Case B, the there are flat parks around the facility, and most of the central area of the playground is mainly used for riding outdoor play equipment is covered by deep snow. tricycles (B-2). A variety of play equipment is located in the area around the playground (B-1, B-3). A long slope that surrounds half of the playground connects to play equipment such as large slides (B-4). In Case C, play equipment is placed in a corner of the playground in an area that is like a small house (C-1). Children often play with soft rubber balls which are obtained by the parents at the playground (C-2, C-3). There is a running track on the second floor, and a gentle slope connects it to the playground (C-4, C-9). In addition to the planning of the playground, the selection of play Fig.5. Condition of outdoor play area in winter equipment provided is very important in determining However, Case B has a slope for sledding in winter, whether children actively play. and provides free rental sleds, so many children can F i g . 8 . s h o w s t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a c t i v i t i e s o f play on the slope; some of them make snowmen and p a r e n t s a n d g r a n d p a r e n t s i n t h e t h r e e i n d o o r enjoy snowball fighting (Fig.6.). If they become too p l a y g r o u n d s . C o n c e r n i n g t h e p a r e n t ' s a c t i v i t i e s , cold to continue to play in the snow, they can easily similar characteristics are observed in the three indoor return to the indoor playground. As children can use playgrounds. As shown in Fig.7., it is common in the the indoor playground to warm their bodies, they can indoor playgrounds for many parents to actively play play on the outdoor slope repeatedly, even on very with their children (A-2, B-4, C-3). The father and cold days. The combination of the slope for sleds and mother often take turns to play with their children, the indoor playground is effective in promoting winter and it is particularly encouraging to see fathers play play activities. with their children. Some mothers hold their babies while watching the older siblings play (A-8, B-6, C-8). Grandparents commonly play with and support their grandchildren in the playground, as shown in Fig.9. Some groups comprised parents, grandparents, and children, who were all enjoying a lively time together as a family. In addition to these cases, some children were accompanied by their grandparents in place of their working parents (A-10, B-9). In the indoor playgrounds, instances where mixed generations play together were notable. In Case C, an elderly woman also walked along the running track on Fig.6. Outdoor play area in winter (Case B) the second floor for her health (Fig.9.). The running 4.5 Play activities in indoor playgrounds track is for multiple use in the complex facility for Fig.7. shows the characteristic activities observed both children and elderly persons. Consideration for in indoor playgrounds A, B and C. In addition to the a diverse range of people is necessary for the indoor observations, we interviewed the facility administrators playground to function as a communal space. concerning issues in playgrounds. 4.6 Relationship between rest area and play area E v e n t h o u g h t h e y h a v e d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s o f T h e r e a r e c l e a r d i ff e r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e t h r e e complexity, the indoor playgrounds of these facilities facilities regarding the location of rest areas, as shown have similar characteristics, such as attractive play in Fig.7. Relationships between the playground and equipment and play areas that allow various physical rest area are shown in Fig.10. activities, a high ceiling above the play area, and an In Case A, the rest area where eating and drinking open atmosphere similar to that of a small park. are permitted surrounds the playground. Therefore, However, the number and types of play equipment c h i l d r e n c a n e a s i l y s t o p b y t h e r e s t a r e a f o r a r e c o n s i d e r a b l y d i ff e r e n t a m o n g t h e f a c i l i t i e s . refreshments. It is also easy for parents to look after Consequently, the ways in which the playground is babies in the rest area while watching children in the used differ for each case. In Case A, the playground playground. Child-rearing groups often have indoor is mainly for running, playing with balls and large picnic lunches in the rest space. On the other hand, in c u s h i o n b l o c k s ( A - 3 , A - 4 ) . L a r g e w o o d e n p l a y Case B, many parents sit on benches or on the floor equipment is located in a corner of the playground in within the playground. The canteen is located next to 76 JAABE vol.6 no.1 May 2007 Seiki Tagawa Fig.7. Various activities at the indoor playgrounds Typical activities of adults Case A Case B Case C p g.p. p g.p. p g.p. in and around the play area. (1) Watching from rest area and benches 172 14 186 6 36 10 (2) Playing with children 127 8 89 4 77 6 (3) Taking care of babies 8 0 6 0 3 0 (4) Chatting with other adults 32 3 28 0 48 0 (5) Eating in rest area 52 11 7 3 84 10 22 0 10 0 12 0 (6) Taking pictures (7) Reading a magazine 6 0 0 0 0 0 (8) Sleeping on the floor 3 0 8 0 0 0 Total number of adults in the area. 172 14 186 6 202 10 (Each observational date and time is the same as in Fig.7.) p: parents g.p.: grandparents Fig.9. Characteristic activities of grandparents Fig.8. Activities of parents and grandparents JAABE vol.6 no.1 May 2007 Seiki Tagawa 77 the lobby area, and food and drinks are prohibited in large groups, the separate meeting room facility of the playground area. Consequently, if somebody in the Case B is useful for them to have their lunch. In Case B, family becomes thirsty, they must leave the playground the meeting room is also sometimes used by volunteer temporarily. In Case C, the rest area where eating groups for reading to children. Such an extra room and drinking are permitted is next to the playground. is effective in encouraging variety in the use of the However, as there is a corridor and concrete columns facility. between the rest area and the playground, visual contact between the two areas is restricted. There 5. Conclusion are not enough benches in the playground, so many Indoor playgrounds can serve as gathering points for parents who want to watch their children must stand or a diverse range of people, including infants, elementary walk around in the playground. The canteen is located and junior high school students, parents, grandparents next to the indoor playground; it is at the center of the and groups. In an aging society with fewer children, the facility and connects the playground, pool area and the gathering of a variety of people in the communal open communal bath. However, many parents bring their areas that these playgrounds provide is very important. own lunches and eat in the rest area and are able to These playgrounds provide a space that encourages have a relaxing time. various activities of not only children but also adults. In the indoor playgrounds, the relationship between The important characteristics of spatial planning that the play area and the rest area was found to be an promote favorable conditions are as follows. important issue. Close proximity between the two (1) Consideration for a diverse range of people, such areas means that children can easily take a break and as attractive play equipment and a plaza which allows hence can continue to play for a long period of time. various play activities. In addition, close proximity between the play area and (2) Appropriate location of staff room, which allows the rest area enables parents to support small children direct contact between staff and visitors. from a suitable distance. It also encourages the parents (3) Close relationship between play areas and rest and grandparents to participate in the children's play areas with good visual contact between children and activities. As shown in Fig.10., the space planning of parents. Case A is very simple and there is no canteen, but it has (4) Appropriate relationship between play area and the closest proximity between the two zones, which is eating area where families can relax while children important for this kind of communal space. play. (5) Preparation of versatile rest space for group use, such as by child-rearing groups and preschool classes. (6) Close relationship between the indoor playground and outdoor play area such as wading pools or sledding slopes, to encourage outdoor activities. The gathering of a variety of people that these playgrounds promote is meaningful not only as a play environment in cold and snowy regions, but also as a regional facility for a mature society. The i m p o r t a n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f i n d o o r p l a y g r o u n d s from the perspective of the social environment have Fig.10. Relationship between playground and rest area significant meaning. Further possibilities for planning In the interview of administrative staff of Case include such playgrounds in other settings, such as A, few people expressed concern that there is no within mixed residential facilities, which will enhance canteen in the facility. It seems that a canteen is not the resident's amenity in an aging society with fewer a critical amenity of the indoor playground there. In children. the interview of administrative staff of Case B, it was found that many parents complained of the lack of a References 1) S e n d a , M . ( 1 9 8 7 ) D e s i g n f o r p l a y e n v i r o n m e n t , K a s h i m a - visual relationship between the playground and the syuppankai, (1998) Way of environmental design, Syokoku-sya, lobby area where eating and drinking are permitted. (1998) Play space for children, Ichigaya-syuppansya. Administrative staff of both Case B and Case C stated 2) Kitagawa, K. and Kato, K. (1990) Research of play space for that many parents bring lunches even though there is a children; background of use of park. Summaries of Technical Papers of the Annual Meeting of the Architectural Institute of reasonable canteen (Fig.7.; B-7, C-5). Japan, (E), pp.407-408. These statements made by parents indicate that 3) Takahashi, H. and Ogaki, N. (2003) Study on play environment in careful planning of proper rest areas, as well as of Hokkaido, No. 2. Summaries of Technical Papers of the Annual the playgrounds, is necessary. In addition, groups of Meeting of the Architectural Institute of Japan, (E1), pp.825-826. children from kindergarten or nursery school often come to the indoor playgrounds. In the case of such 78 JAABE vol.6 no.1 May 2007 Seiki Tagawa
Journal
Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
– Taylor & Francis
Published: May 1, 2007
Keywords: play environment; indoor playground; mixed generation; regional facility; snowy and cold region
